Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush- Peachy Dream

A few weeks ago I was invited along to a mini photoshoot with Smashbox and Bumble & Bumble and whilst it was fantastic to be pampered and made over to perfection before being put in front of a camera, my main concern was of course, rummaging through the make up artists kit to see the new products that Smashbox have to offer.

I was really pleased when the make up artist recommended products and shades to me that I would personally pick out of the collections anyway, and when she chose to use the latest Smashbox Mineral Halo Long W ear Blush in Peachy Dream* on me, as you can probably imagine I was super happy. Now, I describe many beautiful Peach products as a Peachy Dream, and with it being titled that, I'm pleased to confirm there is no false description as it really is a pretty spectacular shade.

Peachy Dream is a beautiful Coral that can be used on the cheeks as subtle or as intense as you wish, due to its amazingly pigmented yet blendable formula. It's pretty pigmented, so you do have to be careful with how much product you apply, but as pigmented as it is, it does blend out beautifully, making a more subtle look completely accessible. 

I personally prefer a more low key look, so I try my best to apply a tiny amount of product to my brush, tap off the excess and apply as lightly as possible, being sure to blend it out well to avoid an overly done, Noddy like look.

Transferred onto the skin, Peachy Dream is such a brightening, pretty shade and as far as Coral blushes go, this is currently one of my top.

This blush comes in a mineral form and works with a little grinder and twist function, which pushes product up into the pan. I'm normally all for a gimmick and although I was hoping it would be more convenient, I don't really love the style of packaging. I personally find mineral products to be pretty messy anyway, and with this, I always end up with more product than necessary which then gets left in the pan and transfers onto the mirror and when I open the compact the next time, I end up covered in Peachy Dream powder.

As much as I do find this Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush is a little messy, the colour is absolutely beautiful and I love that it stays around a fair while on my cheeks, keeping my them pretty and glowing.

Available in four shades, this blush costs £23 and is available to buy as of the 3rd April 3013, at Smashbox counters, Boots and online.

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Illamasqua Powder Blush- Lover

A few weeks ago whilst browsing on the Illamasqua website, I found that it was completely necessary to order another blush to add to my now ever growing collection. 

I decided to order Lover, which is no surprise- a matte soft apricot shade. I have seen pop up in quite a few of my favourite blogs in the past and have always thought it looked really nice. I'm not sure why but this was in fact my first ever Illamasqua purchase and although that's pretty shocking, I'm glad that Lover was the first product I chose to try. It's so like everything I have already, which does seem a little wasteful but at the same time at least I know I will get wear from it and it also gives my make up application a little variety.

I really love the colour and brightness it gives to my cheeks, the super pigmentation and the size of this product but one thing I'm not so keen on is the packaging. I really like a product to look nice both on and in the pan, but this packaging doesn't really wow me. I would much prefer if the clear front was closed in and was replaced with a mirror inside, as it makes application on the go a lot easier with not having to then carry a mirror too. 

I'm going to try my hardest to play around with a few different shades of blush, but I can't make any promises that I will ever sway away from my love of apricot, corals or peaches. 

Illamasqua Powder Blushes cost £16.50 for 4.5g which personally I think is pretty reasonable. Of course, it's definitely still more on the pricey side for a blush, but in terms of being high end it is one of the lower costing blushes available and for the quality of the product, I think it's worth it. 

Have you tried Lover or any other Illamasqua products? What is your go to blush?

xx

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Topshop Head Over Heels

I was shopping in John Lewis the other day and happened to bump into the Topshop Make Up stand. I was after the lipstick Charmed that I had passed up getting a couple of days previous but ended up with this little beaut- Head Over Heels.

Although I'm happy to use Cream blushes, they're not my favourite but when I laid eyes on this shade the formulation didn't even come into consideration. I just had to have it.

Again, Head Over Heels is a Coral blush and although it is absolutely beautiful, in the pan it comes across quite bright and seems more Pink than it in actual fact is.
It does have Pinky undertones which seems to be becoming a theme with my Coral blush collection but I love it.

It's a cream formula but once applied it seems to dry like any powder blush would, which is great for me because like I touched on before, I'm not really a huge fan of cream blushes.
I went a little overboard with this product at first and looked a slightly too flushed and Pink cheeked but this wasn't too much of a problem as it does blend out really well and after I did blend it a little, it muted the bright Pink and sat perfectly as a very subtle shade.
With the standard amount applied, it is pretty subtle and I don't think the colour in the pan really represents it greatly.  Either way it's a gorgeous colour and for £6 it's well and truly worth it.

Topshop Make Up really is fabulous, I really must start giving it a little more attention as I seem to have missed out on so many great products.

Have you tried anything? Are you Head Over Heels?

xx 

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Laura Mercier Peach Whisper

Last week I spent the day wandering around London and found myself having one of those must buy everything days. I had in mind that I wanted this product ever since swatching it when I was with Jessica who actually purchased it at the time and ended up treating myself in the rather dreamy beauty department in Liberty.

It's one of Laura Merciers second skin cheek colour blushes, in the most delightful soft Peach matte shade.

I find it is so perfect at brightening up my face and completing my make up. 

I find that this blush is both super pigmented and long lasting and I don't find myself needing to touch it up through the day or night, although I can't help but carry it around and so often end up doing so anyway.

Peach Whisper is one of five of the new shades in the collection and although I don't really love the other four, others in the collection as a whole I really want to try are Rose Petal and Lush Nectarine.

Although I do like the little mirrored packaging and find it all very sweet and delicate, I do think that £20 which is how much this blush costs is a little expensive for just 3.6g of product in comparison to say MAC, which is almost double and still a few pounds cheaper. 

Never the less, this is such a beautiful product and is a beautiful addition to my ever growing collection.

I would quite like to treat myself to a few more of the blushes in the future and give myself an excuse to buy a nice Laura Mercier palette to put them all in.

Have you tried any Laura Mercier blushes and do you like this shade?

xx

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MAC Melba

You know when you don't give second thought to a product that everyone raves about, and then one day you do, and then you kick yourself for not getting it sooner? That.

Melba is one of them products that I have heard so many great things about, but for an unknown reason I have never actually purchased. I am so happy that this is finally in my collection, as it is the most beautiful blush and I have worn it every day since treating myself to it.

I actually purchased this without a single swatch, which is quite strange for me as I usually like to give a product a bit of thought. On a first glimpse, it doesn't look anything particularly special, but I decided to trust the opinions of some of my favourite bloggers and just go for it.

In the pan, Melba is a muted Peach shade with a slight Pink tone to it and doesn't really look anything too special. It looks pleasant, but doesn't look half as amazing as it does on. 

Once on the skin, Melba is the most beautiful Peach Coral shade. It's super pigmented, and although I've gone quite heavy with it in the pictures above, even with minimal product used for a more natural look, it's the perfect product for finishing and brightening you up. 

One thing that makes me even more in love with this product is that it is a matte finish. Although I have recently been wearing coral blushes with a slight sheen or shimmer, matte finishes always win my heart and this is just beautiful.

With being a powder blush, Melba feels so soft on the skin and applied with my Real Techniques Blush brush, the application is perfect.

I think this is a really complimentary product and has fast become one of my make up bag essentials.

Have you tried Melba? What's your go to blush?

xx

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